Business…here’s a look at LeBron James on the ESPN. Just to keep you apprised of what’s pending, I’ll be writing the Daily Quickie on Page 2 on Thursday. That’ll be serious fun. Let’s just hope I don’t embarrass Shanoff.
So I figured I’d give guys two things to laugh at. First, I’m going to the gym now. At this moment, I feel like I got beaten with a chain. Tomorrow I’ll be moving palms up like I’m carrying a lunch tray. No good.
What else? Oh yes, the Dutch Masters.
I attended their game on Saturday. I hadn’t been in a while because, well, I’ve been in Durham very little in the last month and a half. So I was glad to see the boys play this weekend.
And they won pretty handily.
This is where things get interesting, though. The other team had a couple of girls. It can be tricky when there’s a co-ed league because guys can be a little squeamish about aggressively defending women. Something just doesn’t feel right about taking the ball from a girl or blocking a shot right back into her grill piece.
Yeah, bump that. I had to tell them during a timeout to take their cookies and pitch their shots into the wall.
And they did. The funniest was when I only had to look at Baller Mike to let him know the deal. Next thing you knew, he was on her like she had a three piece from Popeye’s in her pocket.
That’s the intensity I’m talking about.
Oh yeah, and no less than two of them showed up hiiiiiiiiiigh. Like the birds and clouds.
I say that because that may have explained the following story. There’s a big dude on the team named Hank. I like Hank. He’s a goofy sucker, so it’s impossible not to like him. He’s a moron for his refusal to wear anything but low-tops to hoop in, but he’s cool with me. And he’s improved since last year, so it’s fun to watch him play.
But he’s totally goofy. And he’s the hardest fouler on the unit. I guarantee he’s getting his money’s worth out of his fouls. And when he’s got a lot of fouls and the game is close, I sometimes let him to know to make sure to get his money’s worth. I’m like Chuck Daly in this piece.
Anyway, Big O–whose real name is Chuck and who managed to once convince a girl that his last name is Norris–heard me talking to Aden about how goofy Hank is.
So what did O do? He told us that Hank was, shall we say, a rather unflattering term. Aden and I cringed.
O asks the bench if Hank was this unflattering term. They all agreed.
Hank comes out of the game and O asks him if he is this unflattering term. Hank concurs.
That’s a day in the life of the Dutch, man.
Gotta love rec league ball.
And the funniest part is that the folks that watch their games really do check the site for updates. East Chapel Hill High, I see you…just be sure to read the other stuff, too.
And I’m gone.
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“killer instinct” makes sence. “Winner instinct” is a made up slang that does not mean anything. But I accept it for the lack of a better word to beat up KOBE BRYANT. WAKE UP Mr.Bomani Jones WAKE UP. Just admitt that you have not seen any thing like it EVER and be in peace with your soul. CAUSE I tell you, you and ESPN have to come up with titles such as:”KOBE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS BUT LeBRON IS TALLER AND SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT.” stop it and stop it right there.
You know, I have an e-mail address for stuff like that.
Lebron found Marshall wide open against Portland. Great. They lost that game by the way. Kobe hit the last three shots against Cleveland, LBJ missed his. Lakers won the game by the way. With MJ finding Kerr and Paxson. Let’s not forget Kobe finding Harper for the dagger against Philly. Let’s not forget who threw the alleyoop to Shaq in game 7 against Portland in 2000. Kobe’s never won a title without Shaq and Shaq will never win one without Kobe. Lebron is already a superstar. But Kobe is in an elite class of his own. LBJ, Wade, Carter, Tmac are all great players. But there is something that separates Kobe from all of them. Call it killer instinct or selfishness. But I dont think anyone in the league has a greater desire to win than Kobe. I think that’s why a superstar like Lebron is so awed by Kobe.
On that, we probably agree. I don’t think his methods do that much to feed that desire, though.
Hey, yall can’t forget the fact that Lebron has been playin basically with garbage the last three years. And I’m willin to bet if Cleveland and LA swapped stars, the Lakers would have 10 to 12 more wins, and Cleveland would be basically where they are now.
back to matters of grave importance: just what was that unflattering term?
back to matters of grave importance: just what was that unflattering term?
After watching the Cavs play Denver last night, I think I have a better understanding of what a winners instinct is. Apparently it means to pass the ball to teammates that you know damn well can’t shoot because you are too soft and wet to take a shot while being wide open.
After watching the Cavs play Denver last night, I think I have a better understanding of what a winners instinct is. Apparently it means to pass the ball to teammates that you know damn well can’t shoot because you are too soft and wet to take a shot while being wide open.
for those of you who are using this space to comment on the debate between kobe v. lebron, killer v. winner, allow me to point out the obvious: kobe is 27 yrs old, lebron 21. when kobe was 21 he was talented, yes, aggressive, yes, but called upon to lead his team and take game winning shots? no (although we know he tried to do so anyway – often with poor results!). also, kobe at 21 wasn’t nearly as skilled a basketball player as lebron at 21, nor was he the physical specimen at 21 that lebron is(notice i didn’t say that kobe wasn’t talented at 21, he just hadn’t put it all together, yet).
at this point in time, all we can do is imagine what lebron will do at age 27. so let’s speculate. lebron at 27 prolly takes that open jumper last night at denver. lebron at 27 prolly takes over in the fourth quarter for whatever team he’s playing for – be it cleveland or someone else, be it a good or bad team – and prolly achieves great results, much like kobe at age 27 is doing now. the morale to the story? lebron is still a young kid! because his skills and athleticism are unparalleled, we want to see him conquer the world. but he’s still learning the game – a point forcefully driven home by last night’s blunder in denver. kobe made similar mistakes at 21, but look at him now, he’s “killing” the league, both in good ways and bad. one could argue that lebron at 21 is better than kobe at 21. so, by the time lebron reaches 27, look out!
today, an interesting aside has sort of sprung from this debate, as a headline at espn.com suggests that – forgetting kobe’s clear dominance in this regard – even melo is a superior clutch performer compared to lebron. but such a suggestion only goes to further elucidate my point: melo, though still young, is a more seasoned player than lebron. melo led his college team to a chip, melo has tasted the nba playoffs, melo is prolly a year or two older than lebron (when it’s that early in one’s bball life, i.e. when you’re talking about players 20-22 yrs old, every year makes a difference because every year there is a quantum leap in bball ability and knowhow, even for incredibly talented players). so, right now, melo knows what to when the game is on the line, at least moreso than lebron. as soon as lebron tatses the playoffs, as soon as he gets more nba experience, he’s gonna be a bad muthafucker, trust me. in fact, thanks to the steep learning curve that players like melo and wade have mastered at such young ages, we can all meaningfuly hope that lebron figures it all out well before his 27th birthday!